Fashion loves an It girl. Take Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld who anoints new ones-Blake Lively, Rachel Bilson, Alice Dellal-faster than most people go through a box of Ladurée macarons. It girls tend to have a few traits in common: Leggy, lovely and connected, they score coveted fashion campaigns and guest star on
the season’s top catwalks. We’ve put together a list of our favourite new It girls, the ones guaranteed to swish past the most exclusive velvet ropes this season. The countdown to #1 starts now.

 #7: It girl Lady Mary Charteris (shown, left)

At a glance: London blueblood

Points for: Earning the job title MSBDJ: model, stylist, blogger and DJ; her relationship with Big Pink’s Robbie Furze, London’s current cool-kid musician.

Related species: Daphne Guinness (aunt and fashion icon); the late Isabella Blow (family friend and stylist, patron, muse)

Spotted: DJing at industry parties at industry-only parties in Mayfair.

#6: It girl Olympia Le-Tan

At a glance: Parisian bohemian

Points for: Designing the You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover series of chic clutches (like The Misfits by Arthur Miller, which Michelle Williams recently wore on the red carpet), plus a seven-piece clothing collection debuting this fall.

Related species: Pierre Le-Tan (father and illustrator of covers for Vogue, The New Yorker and books by Raymond Carver).

Spotted: At Le Montana, the uber hip Paris nightclub co-owned by Purple magazine maestro—and It girl magnet—Olivier Zahm.

#5: It girl Annabelle Dexter-Jones

At a glance: New York hipster

Points for: Designing a fall capsule collection for Parisian brand Faith Connexion.

Related species: Samantha Ronson (sister and DJ); Charlotte Ronson (sister and fashion designer); Mark Ronson (brother and musician); Alexander Dexter-Jones (brother and DJ); Ann Dexter Jones (mother and jewellery designer); Mick Jones (father and singer of Foreigner).

Spotted: At Le Baron’s New York outpost in Chinatown with the owner, her graffiti-artist boyfriend, André Saraiva.

Who will make it to #1 on our It girl list? Read on for our picks…

#4: It girl Cara Delevingne

At a glance: British socialite

Points for: Starring in the
Burberry beauty campaign 2012, with fellow models Jourdan  Dunn and Edie Campbell; scoring editorials for
Vogue and
Harper’s Bazaar; landing A-list runway appearances at
Chanel, Stella McCartney and Dolce & Gabbana.

Related species: Poppy Delevigne (sister and also a model and girl-about-town).

Spotted: Making the rounds with her sister at London’s top clubs.

#3: It girl Gia Coppola

At a glance: Hollywood offspring

Points for: Directing short films for Wren, Opening Ceremony and DVF’s collab with Current/Elliott; working with established and emerging stars such as Kirsten Dunst and Aubrey Plaza.

Related species: Sofia Coppola (aunt and filmmaker); Francis Ford Coppola (grandfather and filmmaker).

Spotted: At the Coppola vineyard in Napa Valley.

 #2: It girl Chloe Sevigny

At a glance: Original New York cool kid

Points for: Landing the Fall 2012 Miu Miu campaign, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot; starring in Hit and Miss, a British miniseries as a pre-op transgender assassasin, and with Amanda Seyfried and James Franco in this year’s upcoming Lovelace, a biopic about Linda Lovelace.

Related species: Paul Sevigny (brother, DJ, restaurateur, including owner of New York’s Beatrice Inn, until it closed in 2010 ).

Spotted: Filming in L.A. and Manchester, being fabulous around New York.

Style report: The top six summer fashion trends

#1: It girl Charlotte Casiraghi

At a glance: Monaco royalty

Points for: Scoring the coveted Gucci "Forever Now" campaign; publishing the free sustainable fashion tome Ever Manifesto, distributed at Colette in Paris and 10 Corso Como in Milan.

Related species: Princess Grace Kelly (grandmother, actress, Hollywood legend); Princess Caroline (mother); Princess Stephanie (aunt).

Spotted: Jumping horses in Dubai. Naturally.

Verdict: Charlotte Casiraghi wins the It girl crown this season, due to her natural beauty, poise and unrivalled ancestry. Long live the queen! Until next season…

Read more:
Style Showdown: Kate vs Pippa
London 2012 Black Book: The city’s most stylish addresses
Style Snaps: Top street style looks in Montreal and Toronto
London street style: Our picks for the best looks